nexus_crossings | Not all Spring beginnings are nice

It's been some time since the resident rogue made her way to the Plaza to be social, but today seems to be an exception to her recent desire to hide away. In spite of the warm Spring weather, she's dressed in her usual garb sans cloak - linen pants and full-sleeved shirt with embroidery down the outer seams, leather underbust corset, belt full of weapons, and hair pinned up with her unique silver hair pin. No armor today, though, which could well be taken as a sign of progress.

She's quiet for a long while as she paces, debating her words carefully. Her brow furrows and the fingers of her right hand brush through the strands of her hair pin in an obviously nervous manner.

"Spring is a time for new beginnings. A time for casting off the old and welcoming in change." Another pause as she stops in her pacing. "But it's never as easy as all of that. For some, Spring is... hard, a reminder of things now gone rather than a glimmer of hope for what's to come."

A sigh escapes her as she crosses her arms in front of her chest and her gaze settles on nothing in particular in the distance. "Sometimes, you just... need help figuring out what to do. So, the question I pose is this.." She takes a deep breath before focusing more on the crowd in front of her. "How do you cope with loss?"

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And Naugus, for his part, continues to be slightly amazed that Amelia continues to be so amiable. It's not a side of her he's seen, well, ever. Even when she's interacting with people who aren't him. He's not sure what to make of it, honestly.

"Like I've always said, it's best to get out there and meet people and beings unlike yourself. You always tend to learn things that way! Pick up a language or two, perhaps. Learn new skills. People you can and can't work with. I could think of worse places to be stuck in. I've been stuck in worse places, even."

She can't be cruel all the time, but he has a tendency to bring that part of her out. The fact that he's seeing a different side of her now only means that she's growing, changing as a result of being trapped in this place. Permanent change can have that kind of effect on a person.

"I still would have preferred not to be stuck, but you're right - there are worse places to be." There it is again, those two words. Either something's terribly wrong with her or she's really that tired of fighting wit him.

"Besides, being here has opened many doors I never knew existed. Ones I didn't want to know existed." An eyebrow raises in his direction. "Ones that your little stunt pushed me in the direction of." Okay, sure, it's not completely because of him that she wants to learn to use magic, but it's certainly part of it. Because if there's ever another fight between them, she wants to know how defend herself better.

He chortles at the mention of his stunt. Have they-...Have they really reached a point they can laugh about it? Well, probably not completely and he might be being a little nasty still in finding mirth about it, but...Thaaaat's Naugus!

"And what are those exactly? Learning new tricks? Methods to take on and properly take down an old wizard?" He's very casual about the potential for people who want to end his life or just whatever his current reign of terror entails.

That laugh, small as it may be, earns him a pointed glare. No, they're not to the point of laughing about it. Never will be, as far as she's concerned. She may be trying to move past it, but that doesn't mean she's ever going to forgive him for it.

She shifts her stance so that she's facing him directly, her hands clenched into loose fists at her sides. "All of the above."

"Excellent!" He claps his hand and claw together and rubs them as if in anticipation. "Though you may have to look into more than just knives. I'm a little rusty since I've been years without the one who'd spar with me, so that's my excuse for catching one in the ribs last time. Perhaps I could stand a bit of brushing up as well."

"I'm afraid I only have the knives - for now. But perhaps we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement to prevent further losses on both sides?" Oh my, what could she possibly have in mind with that subtle smirk she's trying to hide? It certainly seems like she's asking for his help with something, which is even more curious.

But before she asks, she waits for his response. If he says no, that'll be the end of it. If not? There's plenty of room for discussion of something that'll work out well for both of them.

An ear quirks upwards, swiveling towards Amelia as if to hear her better. She speaks of more than a truce, it sounds like.

Naugus relaxes, leaning back in his chair and drumming his fingers on the cover of his book while the elbow of his other arm hooks back over the seat's rest. "I'm listening."

She takes a moment to organize her thoughts before she speaks. "I don't have the skills yet, but when I do, I'll need someone to practice my offensive and defensive magical skills with. Someone I can trust to not hold back. In exchange, I offer my non-magical skills for sparring."

Allowing a moment for that to sink in, she continues, "I can teach you how to avoid the moves someone like me makes - and I want to learn how to stop the attacks someone like you would throw at me. I want to learn how to defend myself while at the same time learning to be offensive when necessary. As much as I might be loathe to admit it, you're certainly someone I know to have the skills and experience to teach me." And to teach her in a way that will force her to learn quickly, which she's always found to be better for her understanding. Book reading and research is all well and good, but the rogue has always been better at learning on her feet.

"Hmmmm!" Thoughtful beard-stroking begins, mulling over the proposal taking place here. "How accountable would I be for causing injury? I don't need to take up this offer to teach and then have you turn around and accuse me assault." Think of all the worst scenarios first, Naugus. You're not an Ixis if you don't.

"I wouldn't hold you accountable for any injury caused - so long as you do the same for me in return. This isn't going to be easy and I expect both of us to get hurt in the process." Finally, a reasonable time for her pragmatism to come into play. Now if only she would think ahead about finding a suitable healer to go to when she's injured...

"I doubt you'd be anywhere near the caliber of who used to teach me these things," he mutters. "No warrior would ever match her skills. But! I'll keep this proposal in mind. What has you so keen on this arrangement all of a sudden?"

"I was able to hurt you quite badly before, wasn't I?" She can't help but grin as she asks the question, since she already knows the answer. "That should prove more than well enough that I know what I'm doing, even if it's not what you're used to or ready for." Amelia's got a style all her own, Naugus, and she will flaunt it without remorse.

"Does it matter? I've given you my word I won't hold any injuries against you and that I want this to be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Nothing else should matter." Despite her harsh tone, her cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink. It's anger, surely. It couldn't possibly be anything else. Nope. No way.

...shut up.

"I wasn't prepared that time! And like I said: rusty. I used to do battle regularly with a brat faster than sound. Don't take me for some senile old man too readily."

And despite his own snappy and defensive tone, Naugus is smiling as well. "Fine. So be it. I'll teach you in how to arm yourself against the arcane and elemental and you can try to land another strike against me." The mage offers his hand to shake in agreement.

"Deal." Amelia takes the offered hand and shakes it firmly. This may be a terrible idea later down the road - or the best one she's ever had. She doesn't know and she doesn't care. If this turns out to be helpful? That's all that matters.

Edited 2016-05-25 18:14 (UTC)

Not all Spring beginnings are nice

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